GAY SCENE

Dominion, Volume 30, Issue 255, 24 July 1937, Page 7

GAY SCENE

United Services Club Ball St. Francis Hall, gaily bedecked with flags and bunting, was the scene last night of the annual ball of the United Services Club, one of the most popular and largely-attended of all the dances held during the season. The night was ideal fop such an occasion. and that, combined with a perfect floor and lilting music; added greatly to the enjoyment of the evening. This is always a very colourful affair, for it is one of the few occasions when the men are afforded an opportunity of vying with their womenfolk in the matter of colours, their uniforms, many of them vivid in their colouring, standing out boldly among the many hues favoured by the fair sex. Flags in all their multi-colour were strung from the central mirrorball to the sides of the hall, and gay bunting adorned the walls, with here and there some futuristic designs in red, yellow and orange. On the stage, from which played the seemingly tireless orchestra, wore rows of pots of cyclamen and small palms, a very modernistic effect being provided by red, yellow and orange spherical discs apparently growing out of equally modernistic tubs. The official party was seated in a loge which had bands of red. white, and blue for a background, and which was surmounted by a plaquelike Union Jack, with pennants at either side.

Supper was served in the downstairs room, the tables glowing with green baskets and vases of bright iceland poppies. A patriotic touch was achieved by the placing of a paper serviette embossed with Union Jacks before each person. Another popular rendezvous was the comfortably-furnished upstairs lounge.

The ball was attended by His Excellency Lord Galway, who was accompanied by Major and Mrs. Arthur Purvis, Captain Stuart-French and Mr. D. E. Fouhy. His Excellency was met by the president of the chib, Lieut.-Colonel R. W. Fenton, N.Z.A., and Mrs. Fenton, and conducted to the official loge. Mrs. Purvis was wearing a slim-fitting frock of prune velvet, and Mrs. Fenton was in Handers green triple crepe with shoulderspray of petunia. The committee responsible for the dance consisted of the president, and Captain R. D. Oliver. A.D.C., R.N., vice-president; Lieut. B. D. Fitzgerald. N.Z.A., hon. treasurer; Captain S. G. Nicholson, Captain M. J. Mcßryde, Pay-master-Lieutenant K. R. Buck, Lieutenant N. Isaac.

Those in the official party were:— Lieut.-Colonel R. W. F. Fenton, N.Z.A., and Mrs. Fenton, Captain R. D. Oliver, A.D.C., R.N., and Mrs. Oliver: MajorGeneral Sir W. L. 11. Sinclair-Burgess. K. 8., C.M.G., D. 5.0.: Lieut.-Colonel 0. IT. Mead, D. 5.0., and Mrs. Mead; Lieut.-Colonel R. A. Row, D. 5.0.; Wing Commander T. Wilkes, M.C., C.8.E., and Mrs. Wilkes; Colonel W. H. Cunningham, C.8.E., D. 5.0., V.D., and Mrs, Cunningham; Colonel R. St. J. Beere, D. 5.0., V.D.; Colonel F. T. Bowerbank, 0.8. E., E.D., and Mrs. Bowerbank: Pay-Commander E. L. Tottenham, M.8.E., R.N., and Mrs. Tottenham; Major IV. G. Stevens, R.N.Z.A., and Mrs. Stevens: Major R. S. Park, R.N.Z.A., and Mrs. Park; Major D. A. Carty, N.Z.A.; Major C. IT. Beach, N.Z.E., and Mrs. Beach; Major W. F. Shirer, N.Z.M.C., and Mrs. Shirer; Miss Marjorie Millar (Palmerston North) ; Lieutenant B. D. Fitz Gerald, N.Z.A.; Captain M. J. R. Mcßryde, N.Z.C.S., and Mrs. Mcßryde; Captain S. G. Nicholson.

Among the many noticed on the dance floor were: Commander and Mrs. V. G. "Webb, Dr. and Mrs. J. Zohrab, Dr. and Mrs. J. Mercer, Mr. and Mrs. P. B. Cooke, Captain and Mrs. Alister Young, Lieutenant and Mrs. F. Taylor, Captain Jervis, N.Z.S.C., and Mrs. Jervis, Mr. and Mrs. Meachcn, Major and Mrs. Beach, Major and Mrs. W. 11. Bull, Major and Mrs. Houghton, Mr. and Mrs. Desmond Todd, Mr. and Mrs. M. Shore, Captain and Mrs. C. J. Duff, Lieutenant W. Thodey, Lieutenant A. Scott, Captain Lever-Naylor and Mrs. Naylor, Commander Taylor, R.N.V.R., Squadron Leader and Mrs. A. de T. Neville, Dr. and Mrs. E. L. Button, Dr. and,Mrs. Thwigg, Mr. and Mrs. Russell Boyle, Lieutenant A. Jones, Mrs. Gwen Tringham, Mr. and, Mrs. R. Powles, Mrs. A. Holmes, Mrs. A. V. Jenkins, Mr. aud Mrs. J. W. Heenan, Mr. and Mrs. J. F. B. Stevenson, Misses B. Gray-Young. M. Lyons, F. Hislop, T. Adamson, Pat Gilmer, Clare Mack, Sweetze’r, Phillips, Alexander, Isabel Reid, Harper Allan, Nancy Springhall, Thomas, Noeline and Molly Oakley (Palmerston North), Roma Crick, Pocock (Auckland), Messrs. R. Buckleton, C. George, Brian Vickennan, J. B. Turner, R. Fell, Jack Bristed, Erie Reeves, J. and B. McKelvie, Abernethy, Macky. WEDDING Hobson—White A quiet wedding was celebrated at the Church of St. Michael and All Angels, Porangahau, recently, when the Rev. A. M. Ni'bloek officiated at the wedding of Phyllis Nina, youngest daughter of Mr. and Mrs. E. J. White, to Clive Thomas, only son of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Hobson, and gramdson of the Rev. Canon Statham, Dunedin. The bride wore a frock of bottle green inarocain with a coatee of the same material, and hat to tone, and she carried a bouquet of cream roses, chrysanthemums and cyclamen. She was attended by her niece, Margaret Crosse, who wore a frock of green silk velvet with hat to match, and who carried a. posy of cream rosebuds and freesias. Mr. Fred Williams, Weber, carried out the duties of best man. After the ceremony the guests, who included only immediate relatives, were entertained to luncheon at “Braeburn” by Mr. aud Mrs. E. J. White.

'Pile new spring hats are really exciting and a welcome change from the high-crowned hats we are all so tired of. Some of the little hats are terribly smart. There’s a black felt cap with an upstanding bow of felt and thick corded ribbon; one of navy, the crown tucked, has a big bow of navy and petunia reversible grosgrain ribbon ; another of navy has a thick roll of felt and lacquered satin circling the crown; and still another of line black straw with a slightly draped crown has two jutting forward black quills and a forward veil. A lovely hat of brown felt, a wide-brimmed sailor, is laced at the edge with narrow eire straw, Iho petals of tiie felt Hower in front finished to match. Special among the new evening frocks is a black lacquered satin powdered with small posies of tiny daisies in scarlet, gold and white. It is a small size and delightfully simple with a soft sash with long ends. A touch of gauging in front, a killing of black tulle running round the corsage are the sole decoration. Agnes Samson, Lambton Quay.—Advt.